Industrial automation input output module with elastomeric sealing

ABSTRACT

An industrial automation input output module is protected against ingress of water, oil, debris, dirt and other contaminants without use of a potting compound. An elastomeric main seal provides a fluid-tight connection between inter-fitted inner and outer housing members that define a housing of the module. The one-piece main seal includes an integral light pipe portion with at least one light pipe that communicates light from an LED or other light source to a visual indicator opening in the housing, and the light pipe portion is also sealed to the housing to prevent ingress of contaminants through the visual indicator opening. Connectors pass through a wall of the housing and connector seals are used to prevent ingress of contaminants between the connectors and the housing. The connectors are also secured against rotation relative to the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/824,987 filed Jul. 3, 2007, and said prior application Ser. No. 11/824,987 is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present specification.

FIELD

The present development relates to an industrial automation input output module for a distributed input output system that is highly resistant to ingress of water, oil, debris, dirt and other contaminants encountered in manufacturing and other environments without use of a potting compound. An industrial automation input output module formed in accordance with the present development meets ingress protection standards such as IP69/IP67.

BACKGROUND

FIG. 1 illustrates a known industrial automation input output module 100 comprising a housing 102 constructed from inner and outer housing members 102 a,102 b that are inter-fitted with each other to define an enclosed interior space 104 in which one or more electronic circuit boards 106 is/are located. The inner and outer housing members 102 a,102 b are each preferably defined as one-piece molded polymeric constructions utilizing any of a wide variety of polymeric materials in an injection molding process. One suitable material is glass-filled polyester, although it is not intended that the development be limited to such material or any other material. One or more connectors 108 are operably connected to the circuit board 106 and project through a top face 110 of the outer housing member 102 b so as to be adapted for mating with corresponding cable connectors from external input output devices or the like. The circuit boards 106 and connectors 108 are adapted for any desired electrical application such as input and output to/from an industrial process. A module 100 typically comprises a plurality of visual indicators such as light emitting diodes operably connected to a circuit board 106 and that provide visual output signals concerning the state of the circuitry 106 in the module 100 and/or flow of data or power or other signals. A light pipe includes lenses 114 that are aligned with and/or project through respective openings 116 in the top face 110 of the outer housing member 102 b or other location of the housing 102 to communicate light from the LED's outside of the module 100.

The connectors 108, light pipe lenses 114 and any other openings in the outer housing member 102 b are sealed against ingress of water, dirt or other contaminants to the interior space 104 using a potting compound PT that is applied into the outer housing member 102 b after the various components such as the connectors and light pipe are installed. Often, multiple layers of potting compound PT are used and installed/cured in stages as components are correspondingly added in stages.

Potting compound PT is also used to seal the connection between the inner and outer housing members 102 a,102 b. In the illustrated example of FIG. 1, it can be seen that the inner housing member 102 a is adapted for nesting within the outer housing member 102 b and comprises a plurality of tabs 102T that are received in corresponding recesses 102R such as notches, or apertures defined by the outer housing member 102 b so that the housing members 102 a,102 b are mechanically interlocked with a close snap-fit. Furthermore, the inner housing member 102 a comprises a continuous peripheral wall 102W projecting outwardly therefrom that is received within a corresponding continuously extending peripheral groove 102G defined by the outer housing member 102 b. The joint at the junction of the wall 102W and groove 102G is sealed with the potting compound PT.

Despite widespread commercial success, the module 100 of FIG. 1 has various drawbacks relating to the use of potting compound PT to provide the requisite ingress protection. Potted products cannot be disassembled and repaired. A batch of defective modules 100 must be discarded even if only a single component of each module is defective. Assembled modules 100 that are potted cannot be disassembled and reconfigured. The potting compound PT must be cured by passage of time and/or application of heat, neither of which is desirable in a manufacturing system. The potting compound PT is dense and adds significant weight to the product. The presence of potting compound PT also prevents recycling of the module 100.

With these and other concerns in mind, an industrial automation input output module with elastomeric sealing, and a method of constructing same, have been developed and are disclosed herein according to the present invention.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present development, an industrial automation input output module includes an outer housing member with a top housing wall and an outer peripheral housing wall. The top housing wall and the outer peripheral housing wall define an open recess. The outer housing member further includes an inner peripheral housing wall spaced from the outer peripheral housing wall. A groove is defined between the inner peripheral housing wall and the outer peripheral housing wall. An inner housing member is received in the open recess of the outer housing member so that the inner and outer housing members together define an interior space for containing at least one circuit board. The inner housing member includes a projecting seal engagement wall that is received in the groove. A one-piece elastomeric main seal is installed adjacent the groove. The main seal includes: (i) a lateral seal portion that provides a fluid-tight seal between an inner face of said seal engagement wall and the inner peripheral housing wall; and, (ii) a face seal portion located in the groove that provides a fluid-tight seal between a tip of the seal engagement wall and the outer housing member.

In accordance with another aspect of the present development, the industrial automation input output module further includes a visual indicator adjacent a visual indicator opening in the top housing wall. The one-piece elastomeric main seal further includes a light-pipe portion including a translucent light pipe adapted to communicate light from a light source located in the interior space of the module to the visual indicator opening.

In accordance with another aspect of the present development, an elastomeric seal comprises a one-piece body including a seal portion and a light pipe portion, said seal portion including a plurality of linear segments and a plurality of corners located respectively between the linear segments, wherein the linear segments and the corners define the main seal to have an open central portion. The light pipe portion includes a translucent light pipe having an inner end and an outer end, and the light pipe is adapted to communicate light from the inner end to the outer end thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric, partially sectioned view of a known industrial automation input output module;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 and provides an isometric view of an industrial automation input output module with elastomeric sealing formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the bottom or open side of the outer housing member of the industrial automation input output module of FIG. 2, with internal components removed to review the elastomeric seal and sealed connectors;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are lower and upper side isometric views of an elastomeric seal formed in accordance with the present invention and used in the module of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the elastomeric seal as taken at location 5-5 of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the outer housing member and installed elastomeric seal as taken at location 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a section view of the outer housing member and installed elastomeric seal as taken at location 7-7 of FIG. 3, and also shows the inner housing member and an installed circuit board including LED's;

FIG. 8 illustrates a connector installed into the outer housing member using an o-ring seal and a torsion resistant connection in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 shows an industrial automation input output module 10 that corresponds in terms of structure to the module 100 of FIG. 1, except that the potting compound PT of the module 100 of FIG. 1 is eliminated and replaced with a one-piece elastomeric seal 30 in accordance with the present invention. In some cases, the one or more connectors 18 of the module 10 are sealed to the housing with O-rings or other elastomeric seals, depending on the type of connector.

Similar to the module 100, the module 10 comprises a housing 12 constructed from inner and outer housing members 12 a,12 b that are inter-fitted with each other to define an enclosed interior space 14 in which one or more electronic circuit boards 16 is/are located. The inner and outer housing members 12 a,12 b are each preferably defined as one-piece molded polymeric constructions utilizing any of a wide variety of polymeric materials in an injection molding process. One suitable material is glass-filled polyester, although it is not intended that the development be limited to such material or any other material. The connectors 18 are operably connected to a circuit board 16 and project through a top wall 11 of the outer housing member 12 b so as to be adapted for mating with corresponding cable connectors from external input output devices or the like. The circuit boards 16 and connectors 18 are adapted for any desired electrical application such as input and output to/from an industrial process. The module 10 comprises a plurality of visual indicators 24 that project through corresponding openings 26 in the outer housing member 12 b that provide visual output signals concerning the state of the circuitry 16 in the module 10 and/or flow of data or power or other signals.

The housing member 12 is sealed against ingress of water, dirt or other contaminants using a main elastomeric seal 30 located between the inner and outer housing members 12 a,12 b, and an elastomeric seal for each connector 18. As described herein, the visual indicators 24 are also sealed relative to the openings 26 in the outer housing member 12 b, but remain visible outside of the housing member 12. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the inner housing member 12 a is adapted for nesting within the outer housing member 12 b and comprises a plurality of tabs 12T that are received in corresponding recesses 12R such as notches, or apertures defined by the outer housing member 12 b so that the housing members 12 a,12 b are mechanically interlocked with a close snap-fit without requiring use of screws or other fasteners. The inner housing member 12 a comprises a continuous peripheral wall 12W projecting outwardly therefrom that is received within a corresponding continuously extending peripheral groove 12G defined by the outer housing member 12 b. According to the present invention, and unlike the known module 100 that uses potting compound, the joint at the junction of the wall 12W and groove 12G of the module 10 is sealed with the main elastomeric seal 30 to prevent ingress of water, dirt, and other contaminants at the interface between the wall 12W and groove 12G. As such, the wall 12W is sometimes referred to herein as a “seal engagement wall.”

FIG. 3 shows the outer housing member 12 b by itself in an inverted state and with the circuit board(s) 16 and other components removed so that it can be seen that the outer housing member includes an open recess 20 defined by the top wall 11 and a plurality of side walls 22 a,22 b,22 c,22 d that project outwardly from the top wall 11 and that are connected to each other by corners 23 a,23 b,23 c,23 d so as to define a continuous outer peripheral wall structure 22. As described in fill detail below, the connectors 18 project through respective openings 19 in the top wall 11 and are sealed using respective connector seals 70 (see FIG. 8). The groove 12G is defined between an inner face of the peripheral wall 22 and a correspondingly shaped but shorter second or inner wall 24 that is spaced inward from the peripheral wall 22 (see also FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 6, this inner wall 24 comprises an outer edge 24 a and first and second opposite faces 24 b,24 c and thus defines a mounting location for the main elastomeric seal 30.

The main elastomeric seal 30, itself, is shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5 and comprises a one-piece molded elastomeric body defined from a suitable elastomer such as DuPont™ Vamac® (ethylene acrylic elastomer (AEM) or a commercial grade silicone or any other compressible, resilient elastomeric composition suitable for seals (that is preferably also clear or at least translucent for light piping capability as disclosed below). The seal 30 is dimensioned and conformed so as to be adapted to seal the groove 12G of the outer housing member 12 b, i.e., to seal the space between the seal engaging wall 12W of the inner housing member 12 a and the groove 12G of the outer housing member 12 b. Typically, as shown herein, the seal 30 defines an overall rectangular shape comprising four linear segments 32 a,32 b,32 c,32 d connected by corners 33 a,33 b,33 c,33 d. The linear segments 32 a-32 d and corners 33 a-33 d preferably define an open central portion O of the seal 30 therebetween to reduce material usage and to minimize the likelihood that the seal 30 will interfere with other components of the module 10, e.g., the connectors 18.

As is shown in FIG. 5, the linear segments 32 a-32 d and corners 33 a,33 d are defined by spaced apart inner and outer walls 34 a,34 b that are interconnected by an end wall 34 c, wherein the inner and outer walls 34 a,34 b and end wall 34 c define a U-shaped wall receiving structure adapted for close sliding receipt of the inner wall 24 of the outer housing member 12 b as shown in FIG. 6, with the interface between the housing wall 24 and the seal walls 34 a,34 b being smooth and planar over at least a substantial portion of both opposite faces 24 a,24 b of the wall 24.

The outer seal wall 34 b, located adjacent the groove 12G, comprises an outer face 36 that provides a lateral seal portion SL. This outer face 36 preferably defines one or more sealing ribs 36 r that extend parallel to the outer and inner walls 22,24 and parallel to the groove 12G. The sealing ribs 36 r preferably define a saw-tooth cross-section, with a ramp surface 36 a that diverges from the seal wall 34 b as it extends away from the end wall 34 c, which facilitates insertion of the seal engagement wall 12W of the inner housing member into the groove 12G when the module 10 is assembled and which also tends to improve sealing in response to any fluid pressure being exerted on the ribs 36 r toward the interior space 14 of the module 10. The sealing ribs 36 r engage and are compressed by an inner surface 12Wi of the wall 12W when the wall 12W is inserted in the groove 12G as shown in FIG. 7.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 5-7, the seal 30 further comprises a face seal portion SF defined by a lip 38 that projects transversely outward from the seal outer wall 34 b away from the inner wall 34 a at a location spaced from the end wall 34 c so as to be located in the groove 12G, in abutment with an inner wall 12Gi of the groove that extends between and interconnects the walls 22,24 of the outer housing member 12 b. The lip 38 of the face seal portion SF defines an outwardly facing recess 38 r that opens upwardly away from the inner wall 12Gi of the groove 12G so as to be adapted for receipt of a tip 12Wt of the wall 12W of the inner housing portion 12 a when the inner and outer housing portions 12 a,12 b are inter-fitted to define the module housing 12 as shown in FIG. 7. At least at each of the corners 33 a-33 d of the seal, the lip 38 further comprises an upwardly projecting tab 38 t that projects upwardly away from the recess 38 r at a location spaced from the seal outer wall 34 b. The seal engagement wall 12W of the inner housing member 12 a is received between the seal outer wall 34 b and each tab 38 t, and the tabs 38 t ensure a fluid-tight seal between the corners 23 a,23 b,23 c,23 d of the outer housing wall 22 and the corresponding adjacent corners of the seal engagement wall 12W of the inner housing 12 a when the inner housing 12 a is installed in the outer housing 12 b. As such, the tabs 38 t ensure a fluid-tight seal at the corners 23 a-23 d which can otherwise be prone to leaks.

The main elastomeric seal 30 preferably includes at least one integral light-pipe portion 50 as part of its one-piece construction. With particular reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 7, the light pipe portion 50 is defined as part of the one-piece seal construction from the same material and comprises at least one light pipe 52 which is transparent or at least translucent, depending upon the material from which the seal 30 is defined. As shown herein, a base wall 54 is connected to the seal inner wall 34 a and extends transversely inward toward a center of the seal 30, and each light pipe 52 is connected to the base wall 54. As shown, the seal 30 comprises two light pipe portions 50 a,50 b of like construction located on opposite sides of the seal opening O, each comprising a plurality of light pipes 52.

Each light pipe 52 is adapted to communicate light from a light source such as an LED or other light source located inside the space 14 of the module 10 to a location adjacent one of the visual indicator openings 26 of the outer housing member 12 b. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 7, each light pipe 52 comprises an inner end 52 a and an outer end 52 b. The inner end 52 a is adapted to be positioned in abutment with or otherwise adjacent an LED or other light source 56 connected to a circuit board 16 or other location in the module 10. The outer end 52 b is adapted to be located adjacent and tightly received in one of the visual indicator openings 26 of the outer housing member 12 b and preferably project entirely through the opening 26 so that the outer end 52 b defines the visual indicator 24, while a fluid-tight seal is maintained between the light pipe 52 and the outer housing member 12 b. As shown, each visual indicator opening 26 is surrounded by a respective visual indicator boss 26 b that is part of the outer housing member 12 b and that includes a cylindrical inner surface. The outer end 52 b of each light pipe comprises one or more radially projecting sealing ribs 57 that engage the corresponding visual indicator boss 26 b with a fluid-tight fit as shown in FIG. 7 (note that in FIG. 7, the ribs 57 are shown in broken lines to indicate that they are compressed between the light pipe 52 and the visual indicator boss 26 b. As also shown in FIG. 7, it is most preferred that each light pipe 52 comprise a hollow tube structure including a bore 53 closed at the outer end 52 b but otherwise open from the closed end 52 b to and through the inner end 52 a. The open, tubular bore 53 of the light pipe maximizes communication of light from the light source 54 to the closed outer end 52 b of the light pipe, whereas a solid mass of the elastomeric seal material would lead to light losses, scattering and/or dissipation. The bore 53 also facilitates injection molding of the one-piece main seal 30. The main seal 30, including the light pipe portion 50 can alternatively be made integral to the outer housing member 12 b using a transfer or insert molding process, in which the main seal 30 becomes permanently bonded to and/or defined as part of the outer housing member 12 b.

As noted, one or more connectors 18 project through respective openings 19 in the outer housing member 12 b as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As such, each connector 18 must be sealingly engaged with the outer housing member 12 b to prevent ingress of water and other contaminants to the interior space 14 between the connector 18 and outer housing member 12 b as required by the IP65/IP67 or other comparable standard. As such, each connector 18 is sealed to the outer housing member 12 b using an O-ring or like seal 70 as shown in FIG. 8. In particular, the top wall 11 of the outer housing member 12 b includes one or more connector mounting locations 60 corresponding in number to the number of connectors 18 for the module 10. Each connector mounting location 60 is defined by a connector opening 19 in the top wall 11, an outer boss 62 that projects from an outer surface 11 a of the top wall and that encircles the opening 19, and an inner boss 64 that also encircles the opening 19 but projects from an opposite inner surface 11 b of the top wall 11 into the open recess 20 of the outer housing member 12 b. The outer and inner bosses 62,64 each comprise a cylindrical inner surface.

The connector 18 is inserted into the connector mounting location 60, from inside the open recess 20 of the outer housing member 12 b, so that the connector extends through the opening 19 with an outer portion 18 a of the connector tightly fit into the outer boss 62 and an inner portion 18 b of the connector tightly fit into the inner boss 64. The inner portion 18 b of the connector comprises an elastomeric O-ring seal 70 seated in a circumferential groove 72, and the seal 70 engages the inner boss 64 with a fluid-tight fit. The connectors 18 are typically metallic and can be any of a wide variety of well known connectors. As shown, the connectors 18 adapted for threaded connection with a mating cable connector and, as such, each comprise an internally threaded portion 18 t. Because the connectors 18 are subjected to torsional stresses during threaded connection/disconnection of an associated cable, each connector 18 includes means for preventing rotation of the connector relative to the connector mounting location 60. As shown, the outer portion 18 a of each connector includes a plurality of vertical or otherwise configured ribs 18 r so that a knurled outer surface is defined which frictionally engages the outer cylindrical boss 62 to inhibit rotation of the connector 18. It is preferred that the knurled outer surface defined by the ribs 18 r be bonded to the outer cylindrical boss, e.g., by ultrasonic welding or an adhesive or the like.

The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art, and it is intended that the claims be construed literally and/or according to the doctrine or equivalents to encompass all such modifications and alterations to the fullest possible extent. 

1. A seal comprising: a sealing portion; and, a light pipe portion connected to said sealing portion and including at least one light pipe having an inner end and an outer end, said at least one light pipe adapted to communicate light from said inner end to said outer end.
 2. The seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sealing portion and said light pipe portion are defined as a single, one-piece construction.
 3. The seal as set forth in claim 2, wherein said one-piece construction comprises a molded elastomeric member.
 4. The seal as set forth in claim 3, wherein said molded elastomeric member is defined from a transparent elastomer or translucent elastomer.
 5. The seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sealing portion comprises a plurality of linear segments and a plurality of corners located respectively between the linear segments.
 6. The seal as set forth in claim 5, wherein said linear segments and said corners define said sealing portion to have an open central region.
 7. The seal as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said linear segments comprises a U-shaped structure including a seal inner wall and a seal outer wall, said U-shaped structure adapted to receive an associated housing wall between said seal inner wall and said seal outer wall.
 8. The seal as set forth in claim 7, wherein said seal outer wall of each of said linear segments comprises at least one sealing rib projecting outwardly therefrom.
 9. The seal as set forth in claim 7, wherein said seal outer wall of each of said linear segments comprises a plurality of sealing ribs that project outwardly therefrom.
 10. The seal as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a lip that projects transversely outward from said seal outer wall, said lip defining a face seal.
 11. The seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one light pipe comprises a hollow, tubular structure having a bore that extends from and through said inner end toward said outer end, wherein said outer end of said bore is closed.
 12. The seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outer end of said at least one light pipe comprises one or more sealing ribs that project outwardly therefrom.
 13. The seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sealing portion comprises a U-shaped structure including a seal inner wall and a seal outer wall adapted to receive an associated housing wall therebetween.
 14. The seal as set forth in claim 13, wherein said sealing portion further comprises a face seal portion defined by a lip that projects transversely outward from said seal outer wall.
 15. The seal as set forth in claim 14, wherein said light pipe portion comprises a base wall connected to said seal inner wall, wherein said at least one light pipe is connected to said base wall.
 16. The seal as set forth in claim 15, wherein said at least one light pipe comprises a plurality of light pipes connected to said base wall.
 17. The seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one light pipe comprises a plurality of light pipes.
 18. The seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one light pipe of said light pipe portion comprises: a first plurality of light pipes; and, a second plurality of light pipes spaced from said first plurality of light pipes; wherein said first plurality of light pipes is connected to a first base wall projecting from said seal inner wall and said second plurality of light pipes is connected to a second base wall projecting from said seal inner wall.
 19. A combined seal and light pipe comprising: a one-piece molded polymeric structure comprising: a seal portion; and a light pipe portion connected to said seal portion, said light pipe portion comprising a light pipe for communicating light a first portion of said light pipe to a second portion of said light pipe. 